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Interactive Research Platform · Space Systems

SPACE STATION

Research & Engineering Simulator

Explore how humans live, work and conduct science in orbit. Study space-station architecture, microgravity research, life support, power, thermal control, docking, robotics and mission operations—from today's orbital laboratories to India's Bharatiya Antariksh Station and future lunar stations.

Enter Simulator Research Explorer

Explore how humans live, work and conduct science in orbit—from India's Bharatiya Antariksh Station to today's orbital laboratories and future lunar stations.

Explore StationResearch

Learn → Explore → Simulate → Research. Generic simulations are educational models — not mission design data. Programme facts are sourced and dated.

Generic Modular Research Station orbiting EarthSchematic, not to scale. A generic station circles Earth once every 92.9 minutes at 415 km. Sunlight comes from the right; about 39% of each orbit is in Earth's shadow, when batteries power the station. A relay satellite and a ground station provide communication links.Eclipse arc39% of orbitSchematic · not to scale
Orbit37:16 / 92.9 min
Environment☀ Sunlight
Power (arrays / load)140 / 75 kW
Battery100% ▲ charging
Generic Modular Research Station — not a model of ISS, BAS or any real station.Link: Relay + direct
Close-up of the generic stationTruss with solar array wings that rotate to track the Sun, a radiator, and a row of pressurised modules: habitation, node, core with batteries, and laboratory with a docking port.HabCoreLabClose-up · Generic Modular Research Station

Mode
Learn mode: Plain-language explanations and visual simulators.

Part I

Knowledge

What stations are, why they are built, and who is building them — sourced and dated.

Core question

What is a Space Station?

Rockets, satellites, CubeSats, crew vehicles and stations are often confused. The key idea: a space station is itself a spacecraft. What distinguishes it is purpose — long-duration habitation, research and operations in space.

Interactive hierarchy

Select any level to see how it relates to the others.

Space station: Stays in orbit for years for long-duration habitation, research and operations. A space station is itself a spacecraft.

Rocket (launch vehicle)
Carries a payload from the ground to space, then its job is done. Most stages are expended or recovered within minutes.Example: Takes a station module to orbit.
Spacecraft
Any vehicle designed to operate in space. Satellites, crew vehicles, probes and stations are all spacecraft.Example: The umbrella term.
Satellite
A spacecraft orbiting a body to do a job — communications, navigation, observation — usually uncrewed.Example: A weather satellite.
CubeSat
A small satellite built from standard 10 cm units (U), often for education, technology demonstration or focused science.Example: A 3U Earth-imaging CubeSat.
Crew spacecraft
Carries people to and from space, with life support, abort and re-entry systems. Missions last days to months docked.Example: A capsule that ferries crew to a station.
Space station
A spacecraft designed for long-duration habitation, research and operations in orbit. Crews arrive and depart; the station stays.Example: A modular LEO laboratory.
Lunar station
A station orbiting the Moon, or a surface outpost. Distance makes autonomy, radiation protection and logistics far harder.Example: A lunar-orbit habitat.
Purpose

Why build a space station?

Six research domains and sixteen research areas — what orbit offers each, why it is hard on Earth, and where the open problems are.

Why humanity builds orbital research stations
Domain 1 of 6

Microgravity Science

Physics, chemistry and biology with gravity-driven effects removed.

Why a station?
Only a station offers weeks to months of continuous free fall, with crew and laboratory utilities to run, adjust and repeat experiments.
Potential Earth & space applications
Better models of flames, fluids, solidification and crystal growth used in industry, energy and medicine.
Relevant station facilities
Pressurised laboratory racks, furnaces, fluid and combustion chambers, incubators and centrifuges.

Research areas

Why space?
Continuous free fall removes buoyancy, sedimentation and gravity-driven convection for weeks or months.
Why not easily on Earth?
Drop towers and parabolic flights give only seconds of low gravity.
Example research questions
  • Which physical processes are masked by gravity?
  • How do diffusion-dominated systems behave?
Relevant facility
Laboratory racks in pressurised modules (e.g. ISS Destiny, Columbus, Kibo).
Potential Earth benefit
Cleaner fundamental data that improves models used in industry on Earth.

Research mode adds the open research problem for each area.

Open the Microgravity Lab
India · ISRO

India's Bharatiya Antariksh Station

India's indigenous space station programme: a five-module station in low Earth orbit, with its first module (BAS-01) targeted by 2028 and full operation by 2035.

Planned Under DevelopmentEvery statement below is taken from official Government of India / ISRO releases. Nothing here is an estimate.

First module · 2028 target
BAS-01
PIB (Cabinet) · PIB · Department of Space
Modules in the planned configuration
5
PIB · Department of Space
Fully operational BAS · target
2035
PIB · Department of Space · PIB · Department of Space

Mission

Programme
India's indigenous space station, an orbiting Indian human-spaceflight platform in Low Earth OrbitPIB · Department of Space
Status
Planned / under development — system engineering of BAS-01 and subsystem technology development in progress at ISRO centresPIB · Department of Space
Approval
Union Cabinet approved development and launch of the first module (BAS-01) in September 2024, by revising the scope of the Gaganyaan programmePIB (Cabinet)
Industry
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre issued an Expression of Interest to Indian industry for the structure of the first modulePIB · Department of Space

Relationship to Gaganyaan and the Moon

BAS-01 was approved by revising the scope of the Gaganyaan programme to include precursor missions and the first module. Gaganyaan provides the human-rated launch vehicle, crew module, life support and recovery capability that crewed station operations depend on. The national vision pairs an operational BAS by 2035 with an Indian crewed lunar mission by 2040.

BAS Technology Readiness Map

A learning sequence showing how capabilities build on each other. Statuses are from the cited releases; this is not an official ISRO schedule.

  1. Gaganyaan Under development

    India's human-spaceflight programme. PIB (Aug 2026): first uncrewed mission targeted in Q4 2026; two more uncrewed missions and the first crewed mission targeted by 2027. PIB · Department of Space · ISRO

  2. Human-rated systems Under development

    Human-rated launch vehicle, crew escape system, orbital module, life support and recovery — the foundation for crewed station operations. PIB · Department of Space

  3. SPADEX / docking Demonstrated (2025)

    ISRO's Space Docking Experiment demonstrated autonomous docking and undocking of two satellites in orbit. PIB · PIB

  4. BAS-01 Planned (2028 target)

    First module, approved by Cabinet in September 2024 together with precursor technology missions. PIB (Cabinet)

  5. Modular BAS Planned (2035 target)

    Five-module station, fully operational by 2035. PIB · Department of Space

  6. Long-duration operations Planned

    Medium- to long-duration human missions in LEO as part of a sustained Indian human space programme. PIB · Department of Space

  7. Future lunar exploration Government vision (2040)

    The national vision includes an Indian crewed lunar mission by 2040; experience from long-duration LEO operations is a stepping stone. PIB (Cabinet)

Architecture

First module
BAS-01 targeted by 2028PIB (Cabinet) · PIB · Department of Space
Configuration
Five modules — the overall configuration has been reviewed by a National Level Review CommitteePIB · Department of Space
Fully operational
All five modules by 2035PIB · Department of Space · PIB · Department of Space
Approved cost (first module)
₹1,763 crore for development and launch of the first module, 2025–2028PIB · Department of Space

What has not been published

We do not estimate these. They are shown exactly as the public record stands:

Module dimensions and mass
Not publicly specified
Internal layout
Not publicly specified
Crew capacity
Not publicly specified
Orbital altitude and inclination
Not publicly specified
Docking and berthing interface standards
Not publicly specified
Power generation capacity
Not publicly specified
Launch vehicle for each module
Not publicly specified

Research

Key microgravity research areas targeted for BAS, as stated by the Government of India:

  • Life sciences
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Materials science
  • Manufacturing technologies

Indian researchers can prepare through ISRO's microgravity experiment programme — see Indian Microgravity Research.

Technology areas identified by Government / ISRO

Rendezvous & docking

Every module, crew vehicle and cargo vehicle must find, approach and join the station safely.

Robotics

Robotic arms and tools support assembly, inspection, maintenance and payload handling outside the station.

In-orbit refuelling

Transferring propellant in orbit lets a station keep reboosting and controlling attitude for years.

Crew quarters

Private sleep and rest space is essential for health and performance on long missions.

Intravehicular suits

Suits worn inside spacecraft protect crew during dynamic phases and pressure emergencies.

Microgravity experiment racks

Standardised racks provide power, data, cooling and containment so many experiments can share one laboratory.

The one-line explanations of why each technology matters are general engineering context, not ISRO statements.

Sources & Further Research8 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

India · Research opportunity

Indian Microgravity Research

IMEx-2026 is ISRO's Announcement of Opportunity (29 January 2026) inviting the Indian research community to conceptualise, develop and demonstrate microgravity experiments. The current cycle closed on 28 February 2026 — check ISRO for future cycles.

Disciplines invited

  • Materials science
  • Space biology and biotechnology
  • Space agriculture
  • Pharmacology and drug research
  • Fluid physics and thermal transport
  • Combustion and fire safety
  • In-space manufacturing and processing

Who can apply

  • Government-recognised academic institutions
  • National research laboratories
  • Indian start-ups and industry

Pathway to flight

  1. Demonstrate scientific feasibility with a laboratory-scale model using your own institutional resources.
  2. Promising experiments may be supported for validation on terrestrial microgravity platforms.
  3. Selected experiments — subject to safety, feasibility, platform constraints and expected outcomes — may be considered for ISRO-enabled flight opportunities in LEO, including aboard BAS.
  4. Collaborations are formalised through MoUs with the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC).

Educational design assistance, not flight qualification. The designer below helps you think like an experimenter. Real selection, safety review and qualification are carried out by the platform provider.

Loading experiment designer…

Sources & Further Research2 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

Global

World space stations

Status labels are strict: Operational Under construction Development Planned Retired. Plans are never presented as facts.

1 of 8 · International Space Station
  • Operational

    International Space Station

    NASA · Roscosmos · ESA · JAXA · CSA

    A modular laboratory assembled in orbit by five space agencies from 15 countries.

    Explore International Space Station

    Status: Continuously occupied since November 2000. Partners have committed to operations through 2030, followed by a controlled deorbit.

    Modular architecture
    Pressurised modules joined by nodes, with a long integrated truss carrying solar arrays, radiators and external payloads. Built and expanded over many assembly flights.
    Laboratories
    Destiny (US), Columbus (ESA) and Kibo (JAXA) host standard experiment racks with power, data, cooling and vacuum services; the Russian segment hosts its own research modules.
    External research
    External platforms on the truss and Kibo's Exposed Facility expose experiments to vacuum, radiation and the view of Earth.
    Robotics
    Canadarm2 (CSA) captures and berths cargo vehicles, moves payloads and supports spacewalks; other arms serve Kibo and the Russian segment.
    Logistics
    Commercial and international cargo vehicles deliver supplies, experiments and spares; some return samples to Earth.
    Power & life support
    Solar arrays charge batteries for the eclipse half of each orbit. Life support recovers most water from humidity and urine and generates oxygen by electrolysis.
    Mission operations
    Control centres of the partner agencies share planning and monitoring, with the crew executing a detailed daily timeline.

    Sources: International Space Station Facts and Figures · International Space Station · NASA Selects International Space Station US Deorbit Vehicle · Columbus laboratory · Kibo — Japanese Experiment Module · Canadarm2 · NASA Achieves Water Recovery Milestone on International Space Station

  • Planned

    Bharatiya Antariksh Station

    India · ISRO

    India's indigenous five-module space station for medium- to long-duration human missions and microgravity research.

    Explore Bharatiya Antariksh Station

    Status: Planned / under development. First module (BAS-01) targeted by 2028; five modules fully operational by 2035.

    Research focus
    Life sciences, pharmaceuticals, materials science and manufacturing technologies.
    Technology goals
    Rendezvous & docking, robotics, in-orbit refuelling, crew quarters, intravehicular suits and microgravity experiment racks.

    Sources: Parliament Question: Advantages and benefits of Bharatiya Antriksh Station (25 Mar 2026) · Bharatiya Anthariksh Station: first module in 2028 (Cabinet approval, 18 Sep 2024)

  • Operational

    Tiangong (China Space Station)

    China · China Manned Space

    A T-shaped station formed by the Tianhe core module and two laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian.

    Explore Tiangong (China Space Station)

    Status: Basic three-module configuration completed in 2022; crewed operations continuing.

    Tianhe core module
    Mainly used for integrated control and management of the whole station.
    Wentian lab module
    First science module: a working module, an airlock chamber and a resource module; supports crew, extravehicular activity and experiments.
    Mengtian lab module
    Second science module with a cargo airlock permitting automatic transfer of cargo in and out.

    Sources: Core Module Tianhe · Wentian Lab Module · Mengtian Lab Module · China Manned Space

  • Development · Paused

    Gateway

    NASA-led with international partners

    A small station designed to orbit the Moon, visited by crews for short periods and operating uncrewed in between.

    Explore Gateway

    Status: Paused: on 24 March 2026 NASA stated it intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to lunar-surface infrastructure; Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element was realigned to the SR-1 Freedom mission. Covered here for its engineering lessons.

    NRHO
    A highly elliptical, stable orbit passing over the lunar poles, chosen for continuous Earth visibility and low station-keeping propellant.
    HALO
    Habitation and Logistics Outpost — the first habitation module, providing command, docking and living space.
    PPE
    Power and Propulsion Element — a solar-electric spacecraft designed to provide power, communications, attitude control and orbit transfer.
    Uncrewed operations
    Long periods without crew demand autonomous health monitoring, fault response and robotics.
    Radiation
    Outside Earth's magnetosphere, crew and electronics face galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events without geomagnetic shielding.
    Moon-to-Mars role
    Designed as a staging point for lunar missions and a testbed for deep-space habitation.

    Sources: NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy (24 Mar 2026) · Gateway · Gateway: Frequently Asked Questions · Space Reactor-1 Freedom · Gateway (ESA)

  • DevelopmentCommercial LEO

    Axiom Station

    Axiom Space

    First module to attach to the ISS, then depart (as early as 2028 per NASA) to become a free-flying station, with more modules added later.

    Explore Axiom Station

    Status: First module to attach to the ISS, then depart (as early as 2028 per NASA) to become a free-flying station, with more modules added later.

    Sources: NASA, Axiom Space Change Assembly Order of Commercial Space Station (Dec 2024) · Axiom Station

  • DevelopmentCommercial LEO

    Starlab

    Starlab Space (Voyager, Airbus and partners)

    Completed NASA Commercial Critical Design Review in February 2026 (operator press release); moving to manufacturing and integration.

    Explore Starlab

    Status: Completed NASA Commercial Critical Design Review in February 2026 (operator press release); moving to manufacturing and integration.

    Sources: Starlab Completes NASA Commercial Critical Design Review (Feb 2026) · Starlab · Commercial Space Stations

  • DevelopmentCommercial LEO

    Orbital Reef

    Blue Origin and Sierra Space

    Mixed-use station for commerce, research and tourism that the developers plan for the end of this decade.

    Explore Orbital Reef

    Status: Mixed-use station for commerce, research and tourism that the developers plan for the end of this decade.

    Sources: Orbital Reef · Commercial Space Stations

  • Under constructionCommercial LEO

    Haven-1

    Vast

    Single-module station in integration and testing; operator targets launch in 2027 on Falcon 9, with crew visiting in Dragon.

    Explore Haven-1

    Status: Single-module station in integration and testing; operator targets launch in 2027 on Falcon 9, with crew visiting in Dragon.

    Sources: Haven-1 · Commercial Space Stations

Commercial LEO stations are a separate category: NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations programme funded commercial station design under Space Act Agreements. In March 2026 NASA added an ISS-anchored option: a government-owned Core Module attached to the ISS, followed by commercial modules that later detach into free flight — with NASA eventually one of many customers. None of the commercial stations is operational; status reflects the cited operator or NASA statements.

Sources & Further Research10 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

History

What each generation of stations taught us

Not just dates — the engineering lesson each generation left for the next.

  1. Salyut & Almaz Retired

    1971–1986

    Single-launch stations prove long stays are possible — and that resupply decides mission length.

    What happened

    The Soviet Salyut series moved from single-port stations to two docking ports, allowing cargo resupply while a crew was aboard. That hardware became the foundation for Mir.

    Source: 35 Years Ago: Launch of Mir Space Station's First Module

  2. Skylab Retired

    1973–1979

    Design for repair: in-orbit repair saved a damaged station.

    What happened

    America's first station was damaged during launch; crews deployed a sunshade and freed a stuck solar array, showing the value of spacewalk-capable repair.

    Source: Skylab

  3. Mir Retired

    1986–2001

    Modular assembly works, but fire, collision and ageing hardware must be designed for.

    What happened

    Mir grew module by module. Lessons from the Shuttle-Mir programme — including single-command shutdown of ventilation to stop fire spreading and quick-disconnect cables for depressurisation — shaped ISS design.

    Source: 35 Years Ago: Launch of Mir Space Station's First Module · Shuttle-Mir

  4. International Space Station Operational

    1998–2030 (planned)

    International interfaces, standard racks and robotics make a long-lived shared laboratory possible.

    What happened

    Five agencies integrated hardware built on different continents. Standard interfaces and Canadarm2 enabled assembly, maintenance and a continuous research programme.

    Source: International Space Station Facts and Figures · Canadarm2

  5. Tiangong Operational

    2021–present

    A compact modular station can be assembled quickly with automated rendezvous and cargo airlocks.

    What happened

    China's earlier Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2 laboratories preceded a three-module station assembled from 2021 to 2022.

    Source: Tiangong-1 · Mengtian Lab Module

  6. Commercial LEO era Development

    2020s–

    The hard problem shifts from engineering alone to sustainable business models.

    What happened

    Commercial stations must find enough paying customers; NASA intends to become one customer among many.

    Source: Commercial Space Stations · NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy (24 Mar 2026)

  7. Bharatiya Antariksh Station Planned

    2028–2035 (targets)

    Building national capability step by step: human rating, docking, then modules.

    What happened

    India's programme sequences Gaganyaan, docking demonstrations and the first module before a five-module station.

    Source: Parliament Question: Advantages and benefits of Bharatiya Antriksh Station (25 Mar 2026)

  8. Gateway Development

    Paused 2026

    Deep-space outposts must operate autonomously and survive long uncrewed periods — and programmes change with policy.

    What happened

    Gateway's design drove work on autonomy, radiation and cislunar logistics before NASA paused it in its current form in March 2026.

    Source: NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America's National Space Policy (24 Mar 2026) · Gateway

  9. Future lunar & deep-space habitats Concept

    Future

    Closed-loop life support, radiation protection and autonomy become mandatory, not optional.

    What happened

    Surface outposts and deep-space habitats cannot rely on quick resupply or return, so reliability and self-sufficiency dominate design.

    Source: Human Research Program

1971–1986 · Retired

Salyut & Almaz

Engineering lesson: Single-launch stations prove long stays are possible — and that resupply decides mission length.

The Soviet Salyut series moved from single-port stations to two docking ports, allowing cargo resupply while a crew was aboard. That hardware became the foundation for Mir.

Source: 35 Years Ago: Launch of Mir Space Station's First Module

Beyond LEO

From Earth orbit to the Moon

How the engineering changes as stations move from low Earth orbit to lunar orbit and the lunar surface.

  1. ISS / LEO

    Operational laboratory; the reference for everything that follows.

  2. BAS

    India's planned LEO station (2028–2035 targets).

  3. Commercial LEO

    Commercial stations in development.

  4. Gateway

    Lunar-orbit station — paused in its current form (2026).

  5. Lunar surface

    Surface outposts are the focus of current lunar plans.

  6. Future Mars infrastructure

    Concept stage; depends on lessons from all earlier steps.

LEO station vs lunar-orbit station vs lunar-surface habitat
VariableLEO stationLunar-orbit stationLunar-surface habitat
RadiationPartly shielded by Earth's magnetic fieldFull galactic cosmic rays and solar particle eventsHalf the sky blocked by the Moon; regolith can shield habitats
Communication delayNegligible (well under a second via relays)About 1.3 s each wayAbout 1.3 s each way; far side needs relays
ResupplyFrequent; cargo vehicles from several providersInfrequent and expensiveRare; in-situ resources become valuable
GravityMicrogravity (free fall)Microgravity (free fall)About one-sixth of Earth's
Thermal environmentSunlight/eclipse every ~90 min; Earth IR and albedoCold deep-space sink; long Sun periodsExtreme swings; two-week lunar nights at most latitudes
Emergency returnHoursDaysDays, and requires ascent from the surface first
AutonomyGround-supported; continuous monitoringMust run uncrewed and handle faults onboardHigh; crew and robots act with delayed ground support
PowerSolar with batteries for ~35 min eclipsesSolar; eclipses depend on the orbitSolar plus long-duration storage or fission for lunar night
DustNoneNoneAbrasive, electrostatic dust affects seals, suits and lungs
LogisticsEstablished commercial supply chainHeavy-lift launches and long transfersLanders, surface mobility and storage
  1. Low Earth orbit stationPartly shielded by Earth's magnetic field
  2. Lunar-orbit stationFull galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events
  3. Lunar-surface habitatHalf the sky blocked by the Moon; regolith can shield habitats
Sources & Further Research4 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

Economics

The space station economy

Why stations may become economic infrastructure — separating what has been demonstrated from what is only proposed.

NASA's transition in low Earth orbit

  1. ISS (government-owned)
  2. Commercial LEO destinations
  3. NASA as one customer among many

NASA plans to end ISS operations in 2030 and buy services from commercially owned stations. In March 2026 it added an ISS-anchored option using a government-owned Core Module that commercial modules attach to before detaching into free flight.

Commercial maturity should not be overstated: no commercial free-flying station is operating yet, and sustained non-government demand remains to be demonstrated.

Station markets and their maturity
MarketMaturity
Government research
Agencies fund most station research today.
Demonstrated
National laboratories
The ISS National Lab gives non-NASA users access to US research allocation.
Demonstrated
Technology demonstrations
Companies and agencies test hardware before free-flying missions.
Demonstrated
Education
Student experiments and crew education events.
Demonstrated
Private astronaut missions
Commercially arranged missions have visited the ISS under NASA agreements.
Demonstrated
Space logistics
Commercial cargo and crew transport services are operating.
Demonstrated
Commercial research
Companies buy research time; recurring demand is still being proven.
Emerging
Pharmaceuticals & biotechnology
Crystallisation and biomanufacturing research; products are not yet routine.
Emerging
Media
Filming and brand activities have occurred occasionally.
Emerging
Manufacturing
Commercial-scale orbital manufacturing is still at demonstration stage.
Proposed
Servicing
Station-based servicing of other spacecraft remains a concept.
Proposed
Sources & Further Research4 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

Part II

Systems

How a station works as a system of systems, and how failures propagate.

Anatomy

Inside a generic modular station

Select any component to see its purpose, how it works, challenges, sensors, failure modes, redundancy and open research questions.

Loading station anatomy…

System of systems

Engineering systems

Eleven coupled systems. Engineering and Research modes reveal deeper detail.

Structure

The pressure hull is a sealed vessel holding about one atmosphere inside against vacuum outside. It must also survive launch.

  • Loads
  • Pressure vessels
  • Launch loads
  • Fatigue
  • MMOD protection

Switch to Engineering mode for equations, architecture and trade-offs.

Sources & Further Research5 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

Core simulator

Space-station digital twin

Inject failures and follow the cascade through orbit, GNC, power, thermal, life support, crew, payloads, communications and ground — for example: solar degradation → reduced generation → battery deficit → load shedding → experiment interruption → thermal consequences → mission response.

Loading digital twin…

Risk management

Failure & emergency simulator

How stations detect, isolate and recover from emergencies — taught as systems engineering, without operational procedures.

Loading emergency simulator…

Defensive security

Cybersecurity of an Orbital Research Station

A defensive view of how a multi-user station protects commanding, networks, software and data. No offensive techniques are described.

  1. Station — vehicle control network (critical)
  2. Station — crew and payload networks, behind gateways
  3. Space segment interfaces
  4. Communication link — authenticated and encrypted
  5. Ground segment — control centres and payload operators
Defensive threat model of an orbital research stationThree trust zones: the ground segment, the space link, and the station. The station separates a critical vehicle-control network from crew and payload networks through controlled gateways. Supply chain inputs and monitoring span all zones. Threats are shown with the defensive control that addresses each.Ground segmentMission controlGround stationsPayload operatorsSpace linkAuthenticated · encryptedStationVehicle control network (critical)GNC · power · life support · thermalCrew networklaptops · commsPayload networkmulti-tenant racksGatewayGatewayLeast privilege · signed software · anomaly detectionSupply chain · monitoring · incident response span every zone
Spoofed or replayed commands
Command authentication, anti-replay counters, authorisation checks
Compromised research payload
Payload network segmentation, gateways, least privilege
Malicious or faulty software update
Code signing, staged testing, rollback
Tampered telemetry
Integrity protection, cross-checks against physics models
Supply-chain compromise
Provenance tracking, inspection, software bills of materials
Ground-segment intrusion
Hardened control centres, monitoring, zero-trust access
Threats and defensive controls
Threat (what could go wrong)Defensive control
Spoofed or replayed commandsCommand authentication, anti-replay counters, authorisation checks
Compromised research payloadPayload network segmentation, gateways, least privilege
Malicious or faulty software updateCode signing, staged testing, rollback
Tampered telemetryIntegrity protection, cross-checks against physics models
Supply-chain compromiseProvenance tracking, inspection, software bills of materials
Ground-segment intrusionHardened control centres, monitoring, zero-trust access

Command authentication

Only authenticated, authorised commands are accepted; replayed or altered commands are rejected.

Command authentication

Only authenticated, authorised commands are accepted; replayed or altered commands are rejected.

Spacecraft networks

Critical control networks are separated from crew and payload networks.

Payload isolation

Experiments from many organisations run on segmented networks and cannot reach vehicle control.

Supply-chain security

Hardware and software origins are tracked and verified before integration.

Software integrity

Code is signed and verified; configuration is controlled.

Secure updates

Updates are authenticated, tested and reversible.

Telemetry integrity

Telemetry is protected so operators can trust what they see.

Ground-segment security

Control centres, antennas and data systems are protected like critical infrastructure.

Access control

Least privilege for crew, ground and payload users.

Anomaly detection

Monitoring distinguishes faults from malicious activity.

Resilience

Critical functions keep working in a degraded or compromised state.

Zero-trust concepts

No implicit trust based on network location; every request is verified.

Incident response

Plans, roles and drills for detecting, containing and recovering from incidents.

Sources & Further Research3 authoritative sources

Last reviewed:

Part III

Laboratory

Engineering simulators for orbit, power, docking, life support, thermal control and station design.

Simulation Lab

Learn by operating the systems

Each simulator has a Simple and an Engineering view, and shows its assumptions, equations, limitations and sources. All run in your browser with SI units internally.

Loading power simulator…

Loading orbit simulator…

Explained: LEO, drag, reboost, inclination, ground track and debris
Low Earth orbit
Roughly 160–2,000 km altitude. Close enough for easy access and communication; still inside a thin atmosphere.
Atmospheric drag
Residual air slows the station, lowering its orbit. Drag rises steeply at lower altitude and during high solar activity.
Reboost
Periodic thruster burns restore altitude — the propellant cost is the Δv per year shown in the simulator.
Inclination
The tilt of the orbit relative to the equator. It sets which latitudes are overflown and which launch sites can reach the station efficiently.
Ground track
The path traced below the station. Earth rotates underneath, so each pass shifts westward.
Orbital debris
Tracked objects are avoided by manoeuvre; small particles are stopped by shielding.

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Why docking is difficult — and why it matters for BAS, the Moon and orbital assembly

Two vehicles travelling at about 7.7 km/s must meet at a few centimetres per second, with centimetre alignment, while orbital mechanics makes "speeding up" raise the orbit rather than close the gap. Sensors must work in glare and darkness, and every step needs a safe abort.

Rendezvous and docking is listed by the Government of India as a major technology goal for BAS; every module, crew vehicle and cargo vehicle depends on it. Lunar missions need the same capability far from ground support, and orbital assembly of large structures is built on it.

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Design

Design a Station

Choose a mission and constraints; the model sketches an architecture and flags risks and technology gaps.

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Part IV

Research

Microgravity science, open research frontiers and authoritative literature for postgraduate and industry researchers.

Microgravity Lab

Microgravity research domains

For each domain: the research question, why microgravity matters, variables, measurements, controls, instrumentation, safety, applications and where to start reading.

Human Physiology

  • Muscle
  • Bone
  • Cardiovascular
  • Neurovestibular
  • Vision
  • Immune system
Research question
Which countermeasures best preserve bone, muscle and cardiovascular fitness on long missions?
Why microgravity?
Unloading and headward fluid shift occur only in real weightlessness, for months at a time.
Potential application
Osteoporosis, sarcopenia, bed-rest recovery and remote healthcare.
Key papers / resources
Search links are entry points; verify each paper at its publisher before citing.

Engineering mode adds variables, measurements, controls, instrumentation and safety. Research mode adds literature search entry points.

For PhD, postdoctoral, PI and industry R&D

Research Frontier

Twenty-two open research themes with problems, gaps, hypotheses, methods, validation and candidate research questions. Literature links are verified agency pages or search entry points — no citations are invented.

Theme 1 of 22

Regenerative ECLSS

Problem
Life support must recover water and oxygen with very high reliability for years.
Why it matters
Every percent of closure saves launch mass and extends missions beyond resupply.
Current state
LEO stations recover most water and generate oxygen; CO₂ reduction is partial.
Research gap
Long-term reliability, maintenance burden and brine/CO₂ closure.

Hypotheses, experimental and simulation approaches, measurements, validation, facilities, literature and PhD/postdoc questions are shown in Research mode.

Research

Generate a Research Question

From undergraduate projects to industry R&D: pick a discipline, subsystem, environment, TRL and level.

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Sources & further research

Global research library

Curated, authoritative starting points — agencies first, then programme operators, then academic search tools. Every link was checked on .

62 of 62 resources · verified
Q&A

Ask Space Station

Search the curated questions, or browse by topic. Answers that depend on programme facts link to their sources.

What would you like to understand?

25 questions
What is a space station?

A space station is a spacecraft designed to stay in orbit for years so that people can live, work and do research there. Crews and cargo arrive and leave on other vehicles, while the station remains in space.

How is a station different from a spacecraft?

A station is a spacecraft. What distinguishes it is purpose: long-duration habitation, research and operations, rather than transport. A crew vehicle carries people for days; a station hosts them for months.

Why doesn't a station fall to Earth?

It is falling — continuously. It moves sideways at about 7.7 km/s in low Earth orbit, so as it falls the curved Earth drops away beneath it. Thin air still causes drag, so stations are periodically reboosted.

What is microgravity?

Gravity at station altitude is still about 90% of surface gravity. Astronauts float because they and the station are in free fall together. Tiny residual accelerations from drag, vibration and crew movement remain, hence 'micro' gravity.

How do astronauts breathe?

Life support keeps cabin pressure and oxygen close to sea-level conditions. Oxygen is produced by splitting water with electricity, CO₂ is removed by regenerable sorbents, and filters remove trace contaminants.

Source: NASA

Where does water come from?

Initially from Earth, but most water is recycled. The ISS recovers water from humidity condensate and urine; NASA reports that the ISS life-support system has demonstrated recovery of about 98% of water. Make-up water still arrives on cargo vehicles.

Source: NASA

How does a toilet work in microgravity?

Airflow replaces gravity: fans draw waste away from the body into containers. Urine is collected separately so its water can be recovered, while solid waste is stored and removed on departing cargo vehicles.

How does a station generate electricity?

Solar arrays generate power in sunlight and charge batteries that carry the station through Earth's shadow — roughly a third of every orbit in LEO. NASA lists the ISS's eight arrays as providing 75–90 kW.

Source: NASA

Why are radiators required?

Almost all electrical power ends up as heat. In vacuum there is no air to carry heat away, so it must be radiated as infrared from large panels. Radiators also absorb sunlight and Earth's infrared, so they must be big.

How does docking work?

The visiting vehicle matches orbits through phasing burns, then uses relative navigation to approach along a corridor with hold points. Soft capture absorbs motion, hard capture forms a pressure-tight seal, and a leak check precedes hatch opening.

How is orbit maintained?

Drag slowly lowers the orbit. Thrusters on the station or on docked vehicles periodically raise it (reboost), and are also used to avoid tracked debris.

Source: NASA

What happens during a power failure?

Power is split into independent channels. A fault is isolated by switches, critical loads are fed from healthy channels, and lower-priority loads — often experiments — are shed until repairs are made.

How are fires handled?

Smoke detectors raise alarms; ventilation and power to the area are removed, because flames in microgravity depend on forced airflow; crew use extinguishers and breathing equipment, then clean the atmosphere.

Source: NASA

What is BAS?

Bharatiya Antariksh Station is India's planned indigenous five-module space station in low Earth orbit. The Cabinet approved the first module, BAS-01, in September 2024, targeted by 2028, with all five modules operational by 2035.

Sources: PIB · Government of India (Cabinet) · PIB · Department of Space

Why is India building BAS?

Government statements describe BAS as a platform for medium- to long-duration human missions and microgravity research, building capabilities for sustained human spaceflight and supporting the national vision of an Indian crewed lunar mission by 2040.

Sources: PIB · Department of Space · PIB · Government of India (Cabinet)

How will BAS support Indian research?

Targeted microgravity research areas include life sciences, pharmaceuticals, materials science and manufacturing technologies, with racks for microgravity experiments. ISRO's IMEx programme gives researchers a pathway from lab feasibility to possible flight opportunities, including BAS.

Sources: PIB · Department of Space · ISRO · HSFC

What is Gateway?

Gateway was designed as a NASA-led international station in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the Moon. On 24 March 2026, NASA stated it intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to lunar-surface infrastructure.

Sources: NASA · NASA

Why put a station around the Moon?

A lunar-orbit station can serve as a staging point, communications node and testbed for deep-space habitation. The trade-off is added complexity versus going directly to the surface — a question agencies continue to revisit.

Source: NASA

What happens after ISS?

NASA plans to end ISS operations in 2030 and deorbit it in a controlled manner. Commercial stations are in development, and NASA intends to buy services as one of many customers.

Sources: NASA · NASA · NASA

Can we manufacture products in space?

Demonstrations of crystals, fibres and bioprinting have flown, but routine commercial production has not yet been shown. Repeatable quality and economics are the open questions.

Source: ISS National Laboratory (CASIS)

Can artificial gravity be created?

Rotation can produce a centripetal acceleration that feels like gravity. Small centrifuges are used for experiments, but no crewed rotating station has been built; rotation rate, radius and cost are the challenges.

Source: NASA

Can stations become hotels?

Private astronaut missions have visited the ISS, and some commercial station developers include tourism in their plans. Whether tourism can sustain a station financially is not yet demonstrated.

Sources: Sierra Space · NASA

Can we build stations around Mars?

In principle yes, but only as a future concept. Delays of many minutes, rare resupply and radiation would require a highly autonomous, self-sufficient design.

Could a station be assembled autonomously?

Automated rendezvous and docking already assemble modules today. Fully autonomous robotic assembly of large structures is an active research area.

Sources: PIB · Government of India · NASA

How would a postdoctoral researcher conduct an experiment in orbit?

Define a question that truly needs microgravity, show feasibility in the lab, validate on ground or reduced-gravity platforms, then respond to an agency or national-lab opportunity. Expect safety reviews, flight qualification and a long lead time.

Sources: ISRO · HSFC · NASA · ISS National Laboratory (CASIS)

About this project

Research & Project Direction

Portrait of Sudarshana Karkala

Sudarshana Karkala

Research and project direction for this simulator. Current technology and R&D focus areas include:

  • Space Systems & Applications
  • Avionics & Telemetry
  • Digital Twins
  • Aerospace Cybersecurity
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Commercial enquiries

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Commercial products and services, where applicable, are handled separately by iTelematics Software Private Limited under explicit agreements.

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Last reviewed: . Generic simulations are educational models — not mission design data. References to agencies and programmes do not imply partnership or endorsement.